In a sparkling attacking performance the NYC Sharks have kicked off their 2014 season with a 50-22 thumping of the Gold Coast Titans at Remondis Stadium.
In a lopsided first half the Sharks raced to a 40-0 lead and while new coach David Howlett wouldn’t have been thrilled to leak 22 second half points it was still a win all concerned would be satisfied with.
It took less than two minutes for the Sharks to put first points on the board when Josh Addo-Carr finished off a slick backline move and from there the remainder of the first half was somewhat of a procession.
Valentine Holmes was next to score the first of three tries he would score on the night, then in quick succession Jaden Clarke and Dallas Wells and had crossed and with Holmes on target with is goal kicking the Sharks had scored 22 points in even time.
Fa’amanu Brown went over, exploiting some soft Godl Coast defense and after Holmes, then Addo-Carr went over for their second tries it was 40-0 at half time and the result was already beyond doubt despite the fact the match had 40 minutes remaining.
Somewhat understandably with such a large advantage the Sharks took their foot off the pedal in the early moments of the second period and three Gold Coast tries in the first 20 minutes of the half had the score-line at 40-6 but order was restored with a couple of more Sharks tries, one to Holmes, the other to Brown, rounding out the scoring.
The Sharks had a host of good players on the night, with Holmes dangerous at the back, Brown controlling proceedings at the back, with Zane Walford and Patrice Siolo damaging with the football in their hands on the edge of the ruck.
Overall is was a strong performance for up from the Sharks who will hope to build on that result in the weeks ahead.
SHARKS 50
Valentine Holmes 3, Josh Addo-Carr 2, Fa’amanu Brown 2, Jaden Clark, Dallas Wells tries, Holmes 7 goals
beat
GOLD COAST 22